Nissan 370Z

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Model Overview

As the sixth model in the Nissan Z line, the Nissan 370Z is the spiritual successor to the original 240Z that arrived in the U.S. for the 1970 model year. On sale since the 2009 model year, the two-seat coupe and roadster is getting long in the tooth.

History

The original Nissan/Datsun Z arrived in the U.S. in the fall of 1969 as the 240Z. Power came from a 151-hp 2.4-liter I-6. In 1974, the car was rebadged as the 260Z thanks to a 139-hp 2.6-liter I-6. A 2+2 model was also introduced at that time. The second-generation Nissan 280ZX showed up in 1975 with a 170-hp 2.8-liter I-6. With the power rating changing from gross to net, the 1979 model was re-rated at 135 hp. In 1981, power for the naturally aspirated engine increased to 145 hp, while a new turbo engine made 180 hp.

Nissan introduced a new 3.0-liter SOHC V-6 engine family for the redesigned third-gen Nissan 300ZX in 1984. Power ratings ranged from 160-165 hp and 200-205 hp for the naturally aspirated and turbocharged engines, respectively. Power climbed again with the fourth-gen 300ZX in 1990. Naturally aspirated DOHC engines made 222 hp, while a new twin-turbo DOHC engine produced 300 hp. The Nissan ZX was discontinued after the 1996 model year.

The 2003 model year marked the return of Nissan’s two-seat sports coupe. A convertible model followed in 2004. The new Nissan 350Z was powered by a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V-6 making 287 hp. In mid-2005, a 300-hp Rev-up engine was offered with the manual transmission. By 2007, the 3.5-liter was rated 306 hp. A Nismo version was offered from 2007-2008 and featured revised suspension tuning, a limited-slip differential, and unique bodywork.

The Latest Generation

The smaller, lighter Nissan 370Z arrived for the 2009 model year with a larger, more powerful 3.7-liter V-6 making 332 hp. The standard SynchroRev Match six-speed manual transmission automatically matches engine speed to road speed during downshifts. In testing, a refreshed 2012 Nissan 370Z reached 60 mph in 4.8 seconds and finished the quarter-mile in 13.4 seconds at 105.6 mph. The last variant we tested was a 350-hp 2015 Nissan 370Z Nismo model, which was one-tenth of a second slower in both acceleration metrics compared to the less powerful 2012 model.

Why You’d Consider One

The two-seat, rear-drive Nissan 370Z is the automaker’s most affordable sports car and starts at less than one-third the cost of the base Nissan GT-R. In fact, a loaded 370Z Nismo is still less than half the price of a base GT-R.

Why You’d Look Elsewhere

After eight model years with only incremental updates, the Nissan 370Z is showing its age. A more powerful and faster Ford Mustang GT or Chevrolet Camaro SS can be had for a similar price.